Quantcast

Can a trained flight attendant land an airplane in an emergency

Report: JetBlue, United Mulling Partnership
Flight tickets from Srinagar remain exorbitantly high despite aviation ministry request
RTX Q1 Earnings & Sales Beat Estimates, Increase Year Over Year
Delta faces federal investigation as it scraps hundreds of flights for fifth straight day
Coalition pledges to remove EV tax break two days after Dutton ruled out scrapping it – as it happened
Adani’s airport unit seeks $750 million loan from global banks
GE Aerospace affirms outlook; CEO met with Trump to discuss tariffs
Flight made emergency landing in Denver after reported animal strike and engine fire
General Dynamics says G800 jet receives FAA, EASA certifications
Archer unveils plans for NYC air-taxi network in partnership with United Airlines
United Airlines doubles down on Chicago roots with new O'Hare billboards
Gatwick airport strikes, Easter 2025: will my flight be cancelled?
Boarding passes and check-in could be scrapped in air travel shake-up
European air traffic warning means summer delays for holidaymakers
The EU rule change that could affect millions of Brits when their flight is delayed or cancelled
Delta Earnings Land Soon. Why They’re Key for Airline Stocks and the Economy.
Avelo Airlines to Operate Deportation Flights, Hiring Flight Attendants
Travel chaos 2025: all the strikes and disruption expected across Europe
Qatar Airways accelerates Starlink wifi implementation
Southwest Airlines extends flight schedule through early April 2025
Cathay Pacific reaches 3,400 pilots this year, with low resignation rate of 2.9%
Qatar Airways Nears Boeing 777 Fleet-Wide Starlink Upgrade
United receives FAA approval for first Starlink-equipped planes
50 New Routes Launching In April 2025
Qantas launches mammoth Asia flight sale including Bali and Japan
New Update from Air Canada, WestJet, American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue Airways, and Sunwing: Airline Capacity Between Canada and US Slashed as Bookings Plummet Seventy Per Cent
Delta Cuts Two Domestic Routes
United Airlines Technicians Reject ‘Dead on Arrival’ Contract Proposal, Teamsters Say
The State of the Asia Pacific Airline Industry
Spirit Airlines to add Detroit nonstop flight out of Bradley International Airport
Can a trained flight attendant land an airplane in an emergency
People
Webp ymhfjf407emv9o42iza31o4oyd1u
Justin Foster Private Aviation Journalist | Simple Flying

Flight attendants with flight training and a private pilot's license can potentially assist pilots in landing an aircraft during an emergency. They learn basic aircraft terminology and undergo pilot incapacitation training to safely remove ill or incapacitated pilots from their seats. If both pilots are incapacitated, flight attendants may need to communicate with air traffic control and receive guidance from a professional pilot on landing the aircraft.

Flight emergencies are rare but can occur. When one or more pilots are unable to fly the plane, cabin crew must seek assistance from fellow crew members or even passengers. A common question is whether flight attendants can land an airplane in an emergency. The answer varies depending on the individual's training.

Many flight attendants do not have interest or training in piloting, but some pursue flight training or achieve a private pilot's license, which could enable them to assist in landing the aircraft during an emergency.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The responsibilities of a flight attendant include ensuring passenger safety and comfort, conducting pre-flight safety checks, greeting passengers, serving meals and beverages, presenting emergency equipment instructions, assisting passengers during emergencies, managing the cabin during flights, adhering to aviation regulations, and preparing incident reports.

During their training, flight attendants learn basic aircraft terminology to effectively communicate with the flight crew in emergencies. They also undertake 'pilot incapacitation training' to safely remove incapacitated pilots from their seats and assist the remaining pilot by reading checklists and using hand signals for communication.

It is not uncommon for some flight attendants to pursue pilot training while working as cabin crew. Having a private pilot's license provides basic flying knowledge that may be useful in extraordinary situations.

In cases where both pilots are lost for some reason—a highly unlikely scenario—flight attendants would need to communicate with air traffic control for guidance. There is also some capacity for using the aircraft's automatic landing capability under certain conditions.

In most real-life commercial or business aviation incidents, the remaining pilot will land the aircraft without issue but may receive help from a flight attendant if necessary. If a professional off-duty pilot is onboard, their skills will likely be utilized.

If both pilots are lost and no other option is available, a trained flight attendant could potentially take over with guidance from air traffic control or rely on auto-landing technology if available. In general aviation and smaller aircraft types, there have been incidents where passengers with little or no piloting knowledge have landed safely with outside guidance.

The approach phase involves descending towards the airport at correct rates and angles using instruments and visual cues. During touchdown, speed and altitude adjustments ensure that main wheels touch down correctly on the runway. Deceleration involves applying brakes and thrust reversers to bring the aircraft to a complete stop before reaching the end of the runway.

___

Organizations Included in this History
More News

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employs a random and layered security measure known as "Secondary Security Screening Selection" or "SSSS."

May 31, 2025

The United States has halted certain sales of critical technologies to China, including those associated with CFM LEAP-1C engines used in China's Comac C919 jets.

May 31, 2025

The current Air Force One aircraft, used to transport the US President, are over 30 years old and in need of replacement.

May 31, 2025

The coronavirus pandemic severely impacted the commercial aviation industry, leading to significant challenges for aircraft manufacturers like Airbus.

May 31, 2025

Chicago O'Hare International Airport continues to lead as the world's busiest airport by flight movements, with 2,442 daily passenger aircraft operations in June.

May 31, 2025

A report released by UNI Global Union ahead of the International Labour Organization's (ILO) International Labour Conference calls for urgent measures to formalize the care sector and enhance union organizing.

May 31, 2025